November 14, 2018
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar.
Stories this photo appears in:
Law needs to alter for GB airport deal
The government must change the Airport Authority Act to facilitate its acquisition of Grand Bahama International Airport, a Cabinet minister has revealed, adding that a deal “is so close I can feel it”.
‘Screaming from mountain top’ on Biden quarantine
The Bahamas will be “screaming from the mountain top” in a bid to ensure the planned US quarantine for incoming travellers does not devastate the tourism industry, a Cabinet minister pledged yesterday.
Bahamas 'pushes' for U.S. COVID exemption
The Bahamas is pushing "to be at the front of the queue" should the US introduce exemptions from its new COVID-19 testing policy that threatens to be "a significant deterrent" to tourism.
‘Slow ramp up’ of tourism planned
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday officials expect there will be a “slow ramp up” of tourist arrivals beginning next month heading into the spring season.
Aviation 'cutting edge' targeted for early 2021
A Cabinet minister is aiming to bring a reform package that will keep The Bahamas on aviation's "cutting edge", and improve its global regulatory standing, to Parliament in the 2021 first quarter.
Can Bay Street survive ‘til cruise ships return?
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has questioned whether Bay Street can “hold on” for the return of the cruise ship market, which is the lifeline of businesses down town.
Virus may mean changes to screening for air controllers
AVIATION Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar revealed yesterday air traffic controllers may be screened electronically instead of being ‘patted down’ after complaints were made about lack of social distancing at the airport. Controllers at Lynden Pindling I
Cabinet gets 'options' over Nassau Flight
The Minnis administration has been sent “recommendations” on how to proceed with the proposed privatisation of Nassau Flight Services (NFS), a Cabinet minister has confirmed.Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, declined to divulge wh
Govt considering buying GB International Airport
GOVERNMENT is mulling over purchasing the Grand Bahama International Airport from owners Hutchinson Port Holdings, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday. According to Mr D’Aguilar, who has responsibility for airports in the country, Hut
Abaco airport security staff in walkout
A SMALL group of Leonard M Thompson International Airport security officers walked off the job last week, but the situation never compromised the already strained operations of the facility, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.Accordin
Grand Lucayan talks resume tomorrow after Dorian delay
TALKS for the sale of the Grand Lucayan resort were postponed for several weeks because of Hurricane Dorian but should resume tomorrow, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.
Sky Bahamas issues affecting tourist trade, admits D'Aguilar
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said blowback from the grounding of Sky Bahamas has negatively impacted the country’s tourism product especially service to the Family Islands. He said: “I think that Sky Bahamas made some c
Minister: Jobs rise 'more meaningful' than under PLP
A Cabinet minister yesterday hailed the ten-year low in the national unemployment rate as “more meaningful” jobs growth than that achieved by the former administration’s “failed policies”.
Minister not intervening in Sky Bahamas dispute
A Cabinet minister yesterday declined to intervene in the dispute that has prevented Sky Bahamas from flying for three weeks and left it on the brink of financial collapse.Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, instead urged Captain Ra
Patron tax to cover just 45% of gaming
Just 45 percent of web shop gaming activities will attract the new patron “winnings” tax, a Cabinet minister yesterday revealing that online casino spins will remain untouched “for now”. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told the
Ministry of Tourism hit by computer virus
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar is calling for computer security at the Ministry of Tourism to be beefed up following the discovery of a virus on a ministry server on Tuesday. Mr D’Aguilar confirmed the existence of the virus to reporters yester
We will review protocols in light of shark attacks, confirms tourism minister
IN the wake of a month marred by several shark attacks - including one fatal encounter - Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said the government will review protocols to see how it can “mitigate against” these occurrences.He also suggested
Bimini power crisis ‘like visiting the Third World’
A Cabinet minister has admitted that Bimini’s power crisis is “extremely vexing” for the island’s tourism lifeline as furious visitors cancel bookings, leave early and demand refunds.
Nassau Flight sale timeline ‘aggressive’ but needed
A Cabinet minister has admitted that the Nassau Flight Service (NFS) privatisation timetable is “aggressive”, but argued that “there’s nothing wrong with that” ahead of today’s bid deadline.
Eleuthera bus crash: ‘God was with us’
“A GENUINE accident” is how Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar described the tour bus crash in Eleuthera that occurred on Monday, leaving more than a dozen people injured – but with no fatalities.
‘Enormous confusion’ over hotel gratuities
“Enormous confusion” exists even among hotel union members over whether industry employers want to eliminate or alter the automatic 15 percent gratuity, Tribune Business was told yesterday.
Airlift model ‘debunked’ by 35% expansion rate
The 35 percent expansion in Nassau/Paradise Island airlift over the past 18 months has “debunked” a business model that “cost The Bahamas a fortune”, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
Lucayan managers agree settlement
GRAND Lucayan managers have agreed to voluntarily separate from the resort with a total payout of $4.4m, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar announced yesterday, signalling the end of an at times contentious battle between stakeholders.
Aircraft registry needs ‘glaring advantages’
The Bahamas must develop “glaring advantages” over rival jurisdictions if its proposed aircraft registry is to overcome its late market entrance, a Cabinet minister admitted yesterday.
Minister ‘alarmed’ by union behaviour
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday officials of the union representing Grand Lucayan managers have refused to communicate with him, despite cordial discussions more than a week ago.
Ministers miss the disclosure deadline
THREE Free National Movement parliamentarians - two of them Cabinet ministers - were granted more time to file their public disclosures, The Tribune was told.
‘Cat Island must get by with one airport’
THERE is no way to justify spending money on the refurbishment of the Arthur’s Town Airport, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has said, as he suggested Cat Island residents could “comfortably get by” with one airport.
‘Mayday’ aircraft remains missing
Authorities were last night searching for a distressed aircraft in the area of Inagua.
Vacation rental VAT targeted for budget
A Cabinet minister yesterday voiced hope VAT could be imposed on Bahamian vacation rentals in the upcoming 2019-2020 budget despite the multiple complexities involved.
Bahamas hopes Kravitz ad rocks tourism growth
The Minister of Tourism is hoping The Bahamas’ new Lenny Kravitz-inspired advertising campaign will help drive stopover visitor growth “in the teens or low double digit” percentages for 2019.
Ministers claim statistics prove FNM jobs strategy is effective
JOB gains highlighted in the most recent Labour Force Survey among young Bahamians and in the tourism sector, were yesterday lauded by two senior Cabinet members.
‘Hundreds of acres’ for LPIA expansion
Nassau airport’s managers are moving to secure “hundreds of acres” for potential future expansion of its runway and terminal “footprint”, a Cabinet Minister revealed yesterday.
Runway lights rerouted to Marsh Harbour
REPLACEMENT runway lights earmarked for Acklins and Crooked Island have been rerouted and used to address lighting issues at the nation’s second busiest airport – the Leonard M Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
Junkanoo Beach’s upgrade in ‘millions’
The Minnis Cabinet will “certainly” receive a recommendation in the 2019 first quarter on which of three bids is best-suited to take over Junkanoo Beach and invest “millions” in its upgrade.
Web shop tax hikes ‘in our best interests’
The web shop industry tax hikes are in “the best interests of the Bahamian people” due to the social costs the sector imposes, a Cabinet minister argued yesterday.
Cruise port winner chosen in early ‘19
The Government will likely select a preferred bidder for Nassau’s cruise port within the first two months of 2019, a Cabinet minister has confirmed, with tomorrow’s deadline proving unrealistic.
NIB in cash flow boost via $139m NAD refinancing
The National Insurance Board (NIB) will receive a cash flow boost in return for smoothing the $139.1m refinancing of Nassau’s airport operator, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
775 hotel rooms on GB is not enough, says D'Aguilar
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has said the “most critical thing” his ministry has been given to do is increase the “staggeringly low” number of hotel rooms on Grand Bahama.
Plans for two new family island airports
THE government still intends to build two new family island airports by way of public private partnership, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said Friday.
Hotel union urged: Don’t hurt ‘double digit growth’
The Minister of Tourism yesterday “implored” the hotel union not to undermine anticipated “double digit growth” for the key Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons with industrial action.
D’Aguilar defends Cargill’s new role
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar defended the administration's hiring of former National Insurance Board Director Algernon Cargill yesterday, saying the government needs an expert who can help spearhead key aviation initiatives.
Dionisio signals air fees windfall
TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has said the negotiations into charging international airlines fees for using Bahamian airspace are going “extremely well”.
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